This year, Empact Group and its catering division Feedem chose to measure it in something far more meaningful: the lives strengthened, the communities supported and the environments restored long after 18 July had passed.
From planting vegetable gardens that will continue to produce fresh food for months to removing 520 kilograms of waste from one of Durban’s most sensitive ecosystems, the company’s nationwide initiative was designed with one goal in mind—to create lasting change rather than a once-off gesture.
Across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, employees rolled up their sleeves to tackle projects that would continue making a difference long after Mandela Day disappeared from the calendar.
More Than Half a Tonne of Waste Removed from the Umgeni River
One of the initiative’s most visible achievements unfolded along Durban’s Umgeni River and the Beachwood Mangroves, where volunteers from Empact Group and Feedem partnered with the Litterboom Project to restore a fragile natural habitat.
Working together, the team removed 160 bags of litter and pollutants, weighing a combined 520 kilograms, from the mangrove ecosystem.
The Beachwood Mangroves play a critical role in protecting coastal biodiversity, but waste carried through rivers and stormwater systems can accumulate quickly, placing wildlife, plant life and surrounding waterways at risk.
By clearing more than half a tonne of debris from the area, the volunteers delivered an immediate and measurable environmental impact while helping preserve one of Durban’s important coastal ecosystems.
Planting Gardens That Will Keep Giving
While some teams focused on protecting the environment, others concentrated on strengthening food security.
At Empact Group’s head office, employees packed food parcels filled with non-perishable groceries and essential supplies destined for No More Victims in Eldorado Park and Wings of Inspiration in Krugersdorp.
The support extended beyond emergency food relief.
Gardening tools and vegetable seedlings accompanied the deliveries, allowing volunteers to establish vegetable gardens at both children’s homes. Employees prepared the soil, applied fertiliser and planted crops intended to provide a sustainable source of fresh produce for the children in their care.
The initiative transformed a single day of volunteering into an investment in future harvests.
Supporting Communities Across the Country
The spirit of service stretched far beyond Gauteng.
In Cape Town, employees from Empact Group visited Alta Du Toit, a residential care facility for people with intellectual disabilities. Alongside spending time with residents, the team established vegetable gardens to strengthen the facility’s ongoing food supply.
Additional donations of clothing, toys and other essential items were also delivered to the children’s homes, helping address immediate needs while complementing the longer-term projects already underway.
Together, the nationwide activities reflected a balanced approach to community support—meeting urgent needs today while helping build greater resilience for tomorrow.
Creating Value That Lasts
For Salwa Albertyn, Group Human Resources Executive at Empact Group, Mandela Day offers an opportunity for businesses to look beyond symbolic acts of service.
“Mandela Day gives businesses an opportunity to examine the value their contribution creates. We wanted our employees’ time and effort to result in something practical, whether that was food reaching a child, vegetables growing in a garden or waste being removed from a sensitive natural environment.”
Albertyn believes corporate volunteering delivers its greatest impact when it responds directly to genuine community needs rather than simply fulfilling an annual tradition.
“Corporate volunteering carries greater weight when it responds to an identified need. The purpose was to support the organisations and environments involved in a useful way, rather than simply complete an annual activity.”
She added that the nationwide response reflected the generosity and commitment of employees across the business.
“Our colleagues gave their time, energy and effort generously. The result can be seen in food delivered, gardens planted and hundreds of kilograms of waste removed.”
A Mandela Day Designed for Tomorrow
Mandela Day inspires thousands of South Africans to dedicate 67 minutes to service each year.
Empact Group and Feedem approached the occasion with a broader vision.
Food parcels offered immediate relief for families in need.
Vegetable gardens created opportunities for future harvests.
The removal of 520 kilograms of waste helped restore a vulnerable natural environment.
Rather than ending when the volunteers packed away their gloves and tools, the impact was designed to continue growing—in flourishing gardens, cleaner waterways and stronger communities.
Sometimes, the greatest legacy of Mandela Day is not what happens on 18 July.
It is what continues long after the day is over.
